Airport Security & Baggage

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This posting is from: Mary Beth
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Hi all:

I just returned from a trip to Sydney for Mardi Gras. When I was
searched at the airport, before opening the suitcase I told the
inspector "This is my drag bag. I do drag shows and I'm going out at
Mardi Gras".

I pointed out to him my wig, breast forms, etc. The key point here is to
tell the truth. Giving too much information is a good thing here, since
it will speed up the process as most of the baggage screeners I've
encountered so far seem to be genuinely embarrassed about handling
lingerie and other "girl stuff".

One word of advice/warning: You have to decide whether or not to lock
your luggage. Under the new inspection rules, airport security can cut
off your luggage lock (and if can't cut through the lock they WILL cut
through the zipper handle) if the X-Ray turns up anything deemed
suspicious. I had the zipper handle cut off my drag bag because (I'm
assuming here) I had packed a pair of hard rubber breast forms which
I'm guessing must have been read by the X-Ray as having the same
density as plastic explosives. So if you lock your luggage the lock may
be cut off. If you don't lock it, consider placing any expensive
jewelry in your carry-on since I, for one, don't trust baggage handlers
not to pilfer stuff out of suitcases.

Mary Beth Cooper

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This posting is from: delaney olsson
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I use the plastic locking ties (like those that are used for holding
wires together under the hood) to secure my luggage. TSA always pulls
my bag, they cut the ties, and no damage is done - I then put a plastic
baggie with extra ties and a note to use them on the top of my clothes -
some inspectors laugh, some frown, but there's not much they can do
about in either case.

Delaney

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This posting is from: Denise
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Here is some information I posted earlier. Also we will need to be
prepared for tighter airport security if the war starts in Iraq.

To find out information on airport security and how & what to pack, to
lock or not lock, check out the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) Website at:

http://129.33.119.130/public/theme_home1.jsp

Hope this helps!

Looking to see you all there!

Denise

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